The bark on my new magnolia looks 'sick' (irrigation, landscaping, magnolias) - Garden -Trees, Grass, Lawn, Flowers, Irrigation, Landscaping... - City-Data Forum

Jkgourmet · 08-03-2013, 05:13 PM

This thing has only been planted for about 2 months. The neighboring trees do no have this on the bark, including another older magnolia about 25 yards away. There are things that look like pimples all over the bark of the tree. When they are squished, it is powdery, sticky brown stuff.

One of the men who handles the irrigation system at our home said it was "gall worms." But this is not really his area of expertise. I've called the landscape company that did the install, but they saying pests are not a warranty item.

Suggestions and ideas are welcome (we are not gardeners and lived in Arizona for 25+ years, so all we know are scorpions, dust and cactus)

TinaMcG · 08-03-2013, 08:38 PM

It was smart of you not to trust your irrigation guy, because he sure isn't an entomologist or plant expert. That is magnolia scale, and it's all too common a problem with magnolias. Yucky insect pest, but it can be controlled. I am posting a link from Morton Arboretum, but there are many many documents you can find on this pest. Just make sure to consult a university or arboretum website.

Timing is extremely important when treating any scale insect. Read the "control" instructions very carefully.

Magnolia Scale

Bulldogdad · 08-03-2013, 10:33 PM

JK that's BS from the landscape company that planted them.

With that level of infestations and maturity of the scale those plants were infested long before they got planted.

Given evidence that all the white waxy residue has left the scale and they are just reaching maturity.

Its a proven fact because its scale and their life cycle that those trees were infested before they were planted.

I would beat the company over the head with this fact.

Also find out what professional organizations they belong to and what nursery the trees came from then call them to say how disappointed you are in the landscape companies response.

DAMN this pisses me off, gives the rest of us landscape contractors a bad name.

Also is that a new subdivision your in. I would bet they are doing other work around there if you get my drift.

TinaMcG · 08-04-2013, 08:03 AM

Excellent points, BDD. My short term memory must be slipping; I didn't think of how recently planted they were when I posted. You're right that the landscaper planted infested trees. And with magnolia scale which is so common, it's an unforgivable mistake.

Jkgourmet · 08-04-2013, 02:46 PM

I looked at the photos linked by Tina, but the pimples on my magnolia are not white. None of them are white. They are ALL light coffee to dark coffee brown. I then looked for other photos of magnolia scale and found photos that do indeed show this as a brown thing.

So my question is this: When these things are white, is this early infestation? Or is the white stage late infestation? This will be important for when I call the landscape company tomorrow.

Further information: I went out with a paper towel and pulled some of these 'pimples' off. Frankly, the large ones look like the Kudzu beetles that I had earlier this year (those plants were disposed of long before the magnolia arrived), but these things don't move or have legs like the beetles did. So I squished one of these things and got splattered with a little bit of red gunk. Additional samples and squishing produced the same result on the paper towel.

TinaMcG · 08-05-2013, 09:04 AM

Trust us, that is magnolia scale, a classic case. Scale insects go through a number of lifecycle changes, so what they look like now will change. Read about the different stages of their life and you'll see how the appearance changes and how and when to treat them. There is a narrow window to get them at the crawler stage when they're not protected by the hard shell.

Jkgourmet · 08-06-2013, 04:17 PM

Although the landscaping company is saying that this magnolia was part of our original installation February (versus a replacment in May, as I claim), they have agreed to come out and replace it on Friday.

The photos that I provided them indicate that the tree is probably too infested to treat. And, frankly, after I squished one of these things and blood spurted out of it, I just wanted it gone.

Thank you everyone for your help!

Bulldogdad · 08-07-2013, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jkgourmet

Although the landscaping company is saying that this magnolia was part of our original installation February (versus a replacment in May, as I claim), they have agreed to come out and replace it on Friday.

The photos that I provided them indicate that the tree is probably too infested to treat. And, frankly, after I squished one of these things and blood spurted out of it, I just wanted it gone.

Thank you everyone for your help!

Good job Jk.

Just make sure you inspect the new tree before installation if you can.